The summer movie season is finally here! And while we do have a Star Wars movie and a couple of high-profile video game adaptations, May is mostly dominated by smaller films and original projects, as opposed to the big, tentpole franchise entries we’re accustomed to seeing.
With that in mind, we gathered the most noteworthy movies hitting theaters (and streaming) in May and asked you to vote for the ones you were most excited for. Read on to see the 5 Most Anticipated Movies of May!
No. 1
Release Date: May 22, 2026
It’s safe to say that fans are over the moon for the release of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, as it was voted the No. 1 most anticipated movie of May. Pedro Pascal takes up the mantle on May 22 after three seasons on Disney+’s The Mandalorian to play Din Djarin, the bounty hunter who reluctantly becomes the guardian of a force-sensitive “Baby Yoda” named Grogu, who becomes his sidekick.
No. 2
Release Date: May 1, 2026
Our favorite fashionistas are back on the big screen, and it looks like audiences are ready to step into theaters to see the highly anticipated sequel, which came in at No. 2. Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci return for the second chapter of the beloved comedy, which is already winning over most critics. The movie is Certified Fresh and being praised as “nostalgic, a worthy successor, [and] one that pays homage to its predecessor.”
No. 3
Release Date: May 8, 2026
There’s no question that diehard Mortal Kombat fans are going to flock to theaters on May 8 to see Scorpion, Johnny Cage, Sonia, Liu Kang, Sub-Zero, Kitana, and all the characters that make up the iconic video game lineup. The movie comes in at No. 3 in this month’s poll, and in a recent interview with Los 40 México, director Simon McQuoid explained, “I wanted to increase the female representation in the film. There are so many great characters in Mortal Kombat, and I wanted to even out the ledger.”
No. 4
Release Date: May 29, 2026
The Backrooms has finally made it to movie theaters, and viewers are on the edge of their seats waiting to see how A24 is going to present the viral internet sensation on the big screen. From empty office buildings with uncomfortably warm lighting to massive waterslides that lead to darkness, this new horror film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve should be a great lead-up to the Summer season. Step into the backrooms on May 29.
No. 5
Release Date: May 20, 2026 on Prime Video
The fifth spot in this month’s poll was a bit of a toss-up between two films, but in the end, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War won by a single vote over Andy Serkis’ adaptation of the George Orwell novel Animal Farm. John Krasinski reprises his role as the titular operative from the Prime Video series, who finds himself embroiled in a new conspiracy involving a rogue black ops unit.
Thumbnail images by Lucasfilm Ltd.
